Wolff's comments came on the heels of the Oakland Coliseum board unanimously ratifying a 10-year contract with the team, which keeps them in Oakland at least through the 2018 season.

Appearing with Oakland and Alameda County leaders at the Coliseum offices, Wolff said he was relieved to get the contract signed after 15 months of often tense negotiations and was looking forward to building the team a new stadium.

The Coliseum board "has been our landlord for almost 50 years. This lease is very important to us," he said. "It was a little more confusing than we thought it would be, but at the end of the day, we're all in the same family. ... Now we've got a winning streak in Major League Baseball as well as with the (Coliseum board)."

The ratification followed months of debate between the Oakland City Council, Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the Coliseum board and A's leaders over the details of the lease, on topics ranging from a new scoreboard to the impact on the Oakland Raiders to the A's ability to build a new stadium.

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley was elated to finally get the contract signed.

"This is extremely important and gratifying for the City of Oakland, Alameda County and the entire region," he said. "It's just fantastic. It symbolizes our mutual respect and desire to work together."

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, City Council members Rebecca Kaplan, Larry Reid and Noel Gallo, as well as Wolff and the rest of the Coliseum board, signed baseballs and a wooden bat to celebrate.

"It's been a long, frustrating 15 months," said Reid, who sits on the Coliseum board. "Now we can begin talking about building a new stadium."